Clock cabinet

ABSTRACT

A clock having an easily and quickly removable front panel to which the clock face and clock drive mechanism are mounted. Attractive crown, collar and side ornamentation on the cabinet is removably mounted and conveniently interchangeable with different ornamentation.

United States Patent 1 ()hde [451 Feb. 13,1973

2 [541 CLOCK CABINET [76] Inventor: Harold Herman Ohde, 522

Southwood Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43207 [22] Filed: July 16, 1971 [21] Appl.No.:1'63,295

[52] US. Cl. ..58/53, 292/2515, 312/204, 312/245, 312/257 A [51 Int. Cl. ..G04b 37/00 [58] Field of Search ..58/5356; 248/1 14-116; 292/2515; 312/204, 245, 257

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,420,583 6/1922 Simons ..58/56X 1,832,359 11/1931 Carlson ..58/53 2,190,158 2/1940 Junghans ..58/-53 3,090,193 5/1963 Jensen ..58/56 X 3,132,469 5/1964 Bille et a1. ..58/53 3,155,443 11/1964 Meilinger Primary ExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistant ExaminerL awrence R. Franklin AttorneyFrank H. Foster [57] ABSTRACT A clock having an easily and quickly removable front panel to which the clock face and clock drive mechanism are mounted. Attractive crown, collar and side ornamentation on the cabinet is removably mounted and conveniently interchangeable with different ornamentation.

7 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB 13 I975 8HEET 10F 2 ATTORNEYS CLOCK CABINET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to clock cabinets and more particularly relates to a clock cabinet having an easily removable front panel and a drive mechanism mounted thereto and having interchangeable ornamentation.

Wall clocks are popular not only for displaying the time of day, but also for the decorative beauty they add to the furnishings of a room. Such clocks are often retained for years by their owners with much love and affection. Although these clocks are treasured by their owners, such owners, especially ladies often desire to change the decor and ornamentation of the clock. This desire may be the result of a change in room furnishings or it may be the result of the common female desire for periodic changes.

There is a need, therefore, for a decorative clock which can conveniently and inexpensively be modified in its decor and aesthetic appeal.

Clock drive mechanisms occasionally require servicing such as repair or cleaning. With conventional clocks, this servicing begins with the often difficult task of removing the clock drive mechanism from the clock cabinet. There is also a need, therefore, for a clock which provides easy access to its drive mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is a clock having a removable face. The clock includes a clock cabinet having an opening at its front. A front panel member is removably mounted to the cabinet over said front opening. The panel member has a clock face mounted to its front. The clock drive mechanism is rigidly mounted only to the panel member and extends rearwardly for receipt in the cabinet. The clock hands are mounted forwardly of 'the clock face and are drivingly connected to the drive mechanism.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved clock.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clock offering easy access to its clock drive mechanism for facilitating service, such as repairing and cleaning.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attractive clock in a compact unit which can easily and inexpensively be modified to change its ornamental appearance and aesthetic appeal.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a clock which can be serviced without requiring the handling and moving of the primary bulk of the clock cabinet.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating several embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of an assembled embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of a portion of the clock cabinet illustrated in FIG. 1 with the front panel member removed and with the ornamental crown of FIG. 1 exploded.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the front panel member of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and removed from the main body of the clock Cabinet.

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of an alternative ornamental crown which may be interchanged with a ornamental crown illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of another embodiment of the invention. V

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of a portion of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 with the front panel member removed.

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of the front panel member of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 removed from the main body of the clock cabinet.

FIG. 8 is a view in side elevation of the side ornamentation for the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the ornament illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view in vertical section taken substantially through the line l0 10 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of an interchangeable collar ornament constructed according to the invention.

In describing the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the preferred embodiment has a clock cabinet 10 comprising a pair of side panels 12 and 14, a top panel 16, a bottom panel 18 and a planting box 20 or other suitable decoration. These side, top, and bottom panels are preferably of laminated wood construction although suitable plastics or other materials might be used. They are joined together with conventional fasteners, such as nails, screws or glue. A back panel 22 is similarly fastened to the side, top, and bottom panels and is rigidly secured to their rear edges. The clock face 24 is mounted in on a removable panel member 26 which is removably mounted in an opening 28, illustrated in FIG. 2, in the front of the clock cabinet 10. The preferred panel member 26 is a shadow box type structure and has a recessed rear wall 30 with the clock face mounted on its front surface. Additionally, the shadow box panel member 26 has four rectangularly arranged side walls 32, 34, 36, and 38 rigidly attached to the recessed rear wall 30 and extending forwardly therefrom. A decorative picture frame front 40 is mounted to the shadow box side walls and is provided with a suitable upwardly opening slot to slidably retain a front glass panel 42 forwardly of the clock face 24 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The four side walls 32, 34, 36, and 38 of the shadow box panel member 26 form a plurality of shoulders which are matingly received in the opening 28 of the clock cabinet 10. This mating engagement restrains the panel member 26 against lateral movement either vertically or horizontally while mounted in the cabinet.

A battery driven clock drive mechanism 44 is rigidly mounted to the rear of the recessed rear wall 30 of the panel member 26. It is mounted only to the panel member 26 and consequently removal of the panel member 26 from the clock cabinet 10 will not require detachment of the clock drive mechanism 44 from the clock cabinet 10. The clock drive mechanism 44 extends rearwardly for receipt in the clock cabinet and has clock hands conventionally attached forwardly of the clock face 24 and drivingly connected to the clock drive mechanism 44. A small upwardly extending dowel pin 46 is rigidly mounted in a suitable bore in the top wall 38 of the panel member 26 and preferably glued in place. The pin 46 is matingly and slidably received in a coaxial bore 48 through the top wall 16 of the cabinet 10. The fastener formed by the pin 46 and its mating hole '48 restrain the top edge of the panel member against forward movement while permitting a downward movement of the panel member 26 to allow its easy removal from the clock cabinet 10.

A small magnet 50 is mounted in the front edge 52 of the bottom cabinet wall 18. A disk of ferromagnetic material 54, such as soft iron, is mounted on the lower rear edge 56 of the panel member 26 opposite the magnetic 50. Therefore, when the panel member 26 is mounted in the cabinet 10 the fastener formed by the magnet 50 and the ferromagnetic disk 54 will restrain the lower edge 56 of the panel member 26 against forward movement relative to the lower edge 52 of the cabinet 10.

The panel member 26 together with the clock drive mechanism 44 mounted thereon is removed from the clock cabinet simply by pulling forwardly, away from the cabinet, at the lower edge of the panel member 26. When the panel member 26 is tilted so that its lower edge clears the cabinet, it is then lowered to withdraw the pin 46 from the bore 48. This simple action provides quick and easy access to the clock drive mechanism for servicing while making it unnecessary to handle or remove from the wall the remainder of the clock cabinet 10.

' As illustrated in FIG. 2, the ornamental crown 60 is provided with a rearwardly extending flange 62 nailed, glued or otherwise suitably attached thereto. A pair of upwardly extending dowel pins 64 and 66 mounted in the top panel 16 are matingly received in cooperating bores 68 and 70 in the flange 62. In this manner, the ornamental crown 60 is removably attached to the clock cabinet 10 and may be removed by simply lifting upwardly thereon. An alternative ornamental crown, such as the crown 72 illustrated in FIG. 4 may interchangeably replace the ornamental crown 60 because it too has a rearwardly extending flange 74 and a pair of mating bores 76 and 78 for slidably engaging the vertical pins 64 and 66.

A slot 80 parallel to and spaced rearwardly from the clock face is provided on the underside of the cabinet 10 as illustrated in FIG. 10. A planner ornamental collar 82, such as that illustrated also in FIG. 11, is frictionally and removably engaged in the slot 80. This ornamental collar 82 provides yet another convenient and inexpensively interchangeable ornament for the clock. The collar is removed simply by pulling it downwardly. A different one is installed by forcing it upwardly into the slot 80.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, an alternative embodiment of the invention comprises a similar clock cabinet 110 having a decorative flower box 112 and a clock face 114 surrounded by a picture frame molding 116. This embodiment has a flat panel member 118 which is not of the recess shadow box type. The panel member 118 is a flat sheet having the clock face 114 mounted on the front thereof and the clock drive mechanism 120 mounted thereto in manner similar to that of the clock drive mechanism 44, illustrated in FIG. 3. The side edges 122 and 124 of the panel member 118 form shoulders which seat against the edges 126 and 128 of the opening 130 in the cabinet 110. These restrain the panel member 118 against horizontal lateral movement. This embodiment may be made from materials similar to those used for constructing the embodiment of FIGS. l-4.

The embodiment of FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 further includes an upwardly extending dowel pin 132 mounted to a mounting block 134 which is fixed to the rear surface of the panel member 118. The pin 132 cooperates with and is matingly received in a bore 136 in the same manner as discussed in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4. The lower edge 40 of the panel member 118 is restrained against forward movement relative to the lower edge 142 of the cabinet 110 and against downward movement by a fastener means. The preferred fastener means which is illustrated, comprises a pair of rearwardly extending dowel pins 144 and 146 mounted and glued in suitable bores and which are aligned in the direction of movement of the panel member 118 as it is removed from or returned to the cabinet 110. These pins 144 and 146 are frictionally engaged in mating coaxial bores 148 and 150 in the lower edge 142 of the cabinet 110. Thus, the panel member 118 is removed from and returned to the clock cabinet 1 10 with the same ease, speed and convenience and with the same'movements as described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 14.

The side cabinet walls and 162 on opposite sides of the panel member 118 are each drilled to provide a pair of bores 164 and 166 and 168 and 170 entirely through these side walls. A pair of side ornaments 172 and 174 separately illustrated in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are mountable in these holes. Each of these ornaments 172 and 174, advantageously designed in the shape of small balconies, has a pair of pins, such as the pins 176 and 178 which extend from the side ornaments in axial alignment with the cooperating bores such as bores 164 and 166. With this construction, the side ornaments may be mounted alternatively on the inside or the outside of the cabinet. For example, the side ornament 172 is illustrated in FIG. 6 mounted in the interior of the cabinet. Both side ornaments could be mounted on the interior when the owner does not wish them displayed.

Alternatively, both side ornaments may be mounted on the exterior of the cabinet such as illustrated for the side ornament 174 and the side ornament 172 as shown in FIG. 5 when display of these attractive ornaments is desired.

Thus, it can be seen that I have provided an attractive and compact clock which has a removable and interchangeable face and which further permits quick and easy access to the clock drive mechanism. Further, I have provided a clock which can conveniently and inexpensively be modified to change its appearance to suit a ladys taste. Advantageously, the cabinets of the several embodiments, apart from the removable panel members, may be uniformly constructed so that standard panel members and ornamentation may be manufactured for use with the various embodiments.

It is to be understood that while the detailed drawings and specific examples given describe preferred embodiments of the invention, they are for the purposes of illustration only, that the apparatus of the invention is not limited to the precise details and conditions disclosed and that various changes may be made thereinwith departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined by the following claims.

lclaim:

1. A clock having a removable face and in a selected position having a front, a rear and a top, the clock comprising:

a. a clock cabinet having an opening at its front;

b. a front panel member removably mounted to said cabinet over said opening, said panel member having a clock face mounted to front thereof and the rear of said panel member having with a plurality of shoulders matingly received in said opening for restraining said panel member against lateral movement;

c. a clock drive mechanism rigidly mounted only to the panel member and extending rearwardly for receipt in said cabinet and having clock hands mounted forwardly of said clock face and drivingly connected to said drive mechanism I wherein the top edge of said panel member is restrained against forward movement relative to the top edge of the cabinet while permitting downward movement, by a fastenercomprising a generally vertical pin mounted to one of said top edges and matingly received in a coaxial bore in the other of said top edges and wherein the lower edge of said panel is restrained against forward movement relative to the lower edge of the cabinet and against downward move ment by a fastener comprising a pin extending from one of said edges in the direction of movement of said panelmember and frictionally engaged in a coaxial bore in the other of said lower edges.

2. A clock having a removable face and in a selected position having a front, a rear and a top, the clock comprising:

a. a clock cabinet having an opening at its front;

b. a front panel member removably mounted to said cabinet over said opening, said panel member having a clock face mounted to front thereof and the rear of said panel member having with a plurality of shoulders matingly received in said opening for restraining said panel member against lateral movement;

0. a clock drive mechanism rigidly mounted only to the panel member and extending rearwardly for receipt in said cabinet and having clock hands mounted forwardly of said clock face and drivingly connected to said drive mechanism wherein the top edge of said panel member is restrained against forward movement relative to the top edge of the cabinet while permitting downward movement, by a fastener comprising a generally vertical pin mounted to one of said top edges and matingly received in a coaxial bore in the other of said top edges and wherein the lower edge of said panel member is restrained against forward movement relative to the lower edge of the cabinet by a fastener comprising a magnet mounted on one of said lower edges and a ferromagnetic material mounted on the other of said lower edges opposite the magnet' 3. A clock according to claim 2 wherein a crown or nament is removably mounted to the top of said cabinet by means of a dowel pin engaging aligned bores in said crown ornament and the top of said cabinet.

4. A clock according to claim 3 wherein a slot, parallel to and spaced rearwardly from said clock face, is provided on the underside of said cabinet and a collar ornament is frictionally engaged in said slot.

5. A clock according to claim 2 wherein a pair of the cabinet walls on oppositesides of said panel member are each provided with a pair of bores extending entirely through said walls and wherein a pair of side ornaments are provided each having a pair of pins extending therefrom in alignment with said bores for mounting at said bores alternatively on the inside of said cabinet and on the outside of said cabinet.

6. A clock according to claim 2 wherein said shoulders are formed by the exterior side walls of a recessed shadow box extending into the interior of said cabinet and wherein said clock face is mounted on the front surface of the recessed rear wall of the shadow box.

7. A clock according to claim 6 wherein a transparent sheet is slidably mounted to said shadow box forward of said clock face.

*armu a 

1. A clock having a removable face and in a selected position having a front, a rear and a top, the clock comprising: a. a clock cabinet having an opening at its front; b. a front panel member removably mounted to said cabinet over said opening, said panel member having a clock face mounted to front thereof and the rear of said panel member having with a plurality of shoulders matingly received in said opening for restraining said panel member against lateral movement; c. a clock drive mechanism rigidly mounted only to the panel member and extending rearwardly for receipt in said cabinet and having clock hands mounted forwardly of said clock face and drivingly connected to said drive mechanism wherein the top edge of said panel member is restrained against forward movement relative to the top edge of the cabinet while permitting downward movement, by a fastener comprising a generally vertical pin mounted to one of said top edges and matingly received in a coaxial bore in the other of said top edges and wherein the lower edge of said panel is restrained against forward movement relative to the lower edge of the cabinet and against downward movement by a fastener comprising a pin extending from one of said edges in the direction of movement of said panel member and frictionally engaged in a coaxial bore in the other of said lower edges.
 1. A clock having a removable face and in a selected position having a front, a rear and a top, the clock comprising: a. a clock cabinet having an opening at its front; b. a front panel member removably mounted to said cabinet over said opening, said panel member having a clock face mounted to front thereof and the rear of said panel member having with a plurality of shoulders matingly received in said opening for restraining said panel member against lateral movement; c. a clock drive mechanism rigidly mounted only to the panel member and extending rearwardly for receipt in said cabinet and having clock hands mounted forwardly of said clock face and drivingly connected to said drive mechanism wherein the top edge of said panel member is restrained against forward movement relative to the top edge of the cabinet while permitting downward movement, by a fastener comprising a generally vertical pin mounted to one of said top edges and matingly received in a coaxial bore in the other of said top edges and wherein the lower edge of said panel is restrained against forward movement relative to the lower edge of the cabinet and against downward movement by a fastener comprising a pin extending from one of said edges in the direction of movement of said panel member and frictionally engaged in a coaxial bore in the other of said lower edges.
 2. A clock having a removable face and in a selected position having a front, a rear and a top, the clock comprising: a. a clock cabinet having an opening at its front; b. a front panel member removably mounted to said cabinet over said opening, said panel member having a clock face mounted to front thereof and the rear of said panel member Having with a plurality of shoulders matingly received in said opening for restraining said panel member against lateral movement; c. a clock drive mechanism rigidly mounted only to the panel member and extending rearwardly for receipt in said cabinet and having clock hands mounted forwardly of said clock face and drivingly connected to said drive mechanism wherein the top edge of said panel member is restrained against forward movement relative to the top edge of the cabinet while permitting downward movement, by a fastener comprising a generally vertical pin mounted to one of said top edges and matingly received in a coaxial bore in the other of said top edges and wherein the lower edge of said panel member is restrained against forward movement relative to the lower edge of the cabinet by a fastener comprising a magnet mounted on one of said lower edges and a ferromagnetic material mounted on the other of said lower edges opposite the magnet.
 3. A clock according to claim 2 wherein a crown ornament is removably mounted to the top of said cabinet by means of a dowel pin engaging aligned bores in said crown ornament and the top of said cabinet.
 4. A clock according to claim 3 wherein a slot, parallel to and spaced rearwardly from said clock face, is provided on the underside of said cabinet and a collar ornament is frictionally engaged in said slot.
 5. A clock according to claim 2 wherein a pair of the cabinet walls on opposite sides of said panel member are each provided with a pair of bores extending entirely through said walls and wherein a pair of side ornaments are provided each having a pair of pins extending therefrom in alignment with said bores for mounting at said bores alternatively on the inside of said cabinet and on the outside of said cabinet.
 6. A clock according to claim 2 wherein said shoulders are formed by the exterior side walls of a recessed shadow box extending into the interior of said cabinet and wherein said clock face is mounted on the front surface of the recessed rear wall of the shadow box. 